MUSIC
“Maybe it is a wee bit more mellow, if
that’s the case it wasn’t our intention,”
words Doug Johnstone
says Braithwaite. “I think every album
has a different attitude due to the
circumstances it’s made in, it just
depends what songs you write and how
T
hese days Mogwai find themselves in a strange position. The Glaswegian
five-piece instrumental post-rock outfit are so full of youthful enthusiasm and
they end up.”
attitude it’s easy to forget they’re actually in the situation of being considered
In the time since their last studio album
indie veterans, revered ones at that.
proper, Mogwai haven’t exactly been idle,
The band have just released their sixth studio album in the 12 years since their
having notched up landmark live shows
inception, and they’re a lot longer in the tooth than ninety percent of the indie upstarts like the Royal Albert Hall and Somerset
kicking around these days, although guitarist Stuart Braithwaite hasn’t thought about House as well as writing and recording
their venerated status, at least, not until I mention it. the soundtrack to Turner prize winning-
“I suppose we are veterans,” he laughs. “We certainly didn’t expect to be doing it this
artist Douglas Gordon’s 2006 feature film
long, and there aren’t many bands that get to six albums, so that’s pretty good. I guess
about Zinedine Zidane.
it’s worked in our favour that we’ve never had too much of a plan.”
“Maybe subconsciously that soundtrack
The band’s career has gone on just swimmingly without a plan. Their new album, The
experience made a difference to the
Hawk Is Howling, is the latest slab of sublimely atmospheric soundscapes from the
new album,” admits Braithwaite. “When
band, and it sees them further refining their style, combining the best dynamic bluster
we did that we were a lot looser with the
of their earlier material with a deeper understanding of melody and texture. It’s also, arrangements, and maybe that was a
dare I say it, somewhat mellower than previous records. factor this time round as well.”
i-on_Edinburgh_34_Oct08.indd 30 26/9/08 13:12:29
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